For the second year in succession, Mark Simmons was kind enough to arrange an Autumn drive for Barchetta owners, this time along the scenic Suffolk coastline. Joining Mark and his wife Leah at the start of the day was myself and my dad, Bob, Ross, with our furry club mascot Monty, Dominic, Paul, Scott and David. David’s Barchetta was unfortunately unable to attend, so for the day, we permitted his Porsche Boxster to join the procession as it had the correct number of seats and the roof can be lowered. However the steering wheel was on the wrong side.

Our meeting point was the Suffolk Food Hall, situated on the bank of the River Orwell with the impressively imposing Orwell Bridge stretching overhead. After the introductions, catch up chat and Barchetta discussions regarding the various quirks some of the cars possess as the years take their toll, we enjoyed a pleasant top-down drive to Bawdsey Quay, passing the towering mast of the museum which documents the birth of modern radar and its role in the Battle of Britain. We then took a stroll along the small beach, passing the departure point of the busy Felixstowe Ferry which allows foot passengers to cross over the River Debden. 

We then continued the drive in the sunshine to the panoramic Shingle Street. Here we were treated to not only the sight of pebbles stretching as far as the eye could see and the local Martello Tower, built to counter the threat of an invasion by Napoleon that never materialised, but also the appearance of a natural lagoon that had attracted the attention of a camera club looking to capture the perfect photo. Monty was especially pleased to stop here as this is a very dog-friendly beach all year round.

At this stage, we had to unfortunately say goodbye to Paul and Scott who, due to other commitments, could not join us for the drive to our location for lunch, Orford. With its mediaeval castle in the background, traditional cottages and busy quay where it is possible to buy a range of seafood, this is a picturesque little village well worth a visit. Top marks go to the Jolly Sailor pub, which provided us with a lovely Sunday lunch which we enjoyed sitting in the garden, a rather nice treat for late September. Afterwards, there was time to park the remaining Barchettas on the quay for a final photo opportunity, not only for that day but potentially the year as this was the last trip of 2025 for some of the cars prior to them going into hibernation for the winter. 

The grey skies and rain that fell on my way back to Essex seemingly confirmed it was time for the car to get back into the garage for a few months after a fun day’s driving, with the complete snapping of one of the wiper blades as I parked the car up giving me my first job of 2026, along with trying to get the airbag light off! As always, it was great to catch up with everyone, share stories and meet some new friends. The cars (including the Porsche) looked great out on the road where they belong, and thanks to Mark for taking the time to organise the drive.

Neil Mead